Last season we were delighted to welcome University of Brighton (UoB) students, Alice Frise and Jack Hardcastle, into our offices for a three-month internship, in which they fully immersed themselves in football development.

Joining us from March to May as part of their degrees in BSc (Hons) Sport Management, and linking in with our Nextgen Programme, they worked with us as Football Development Interns equipping them with an array of vital professional skills and invaluable industry experience.

Some key elements they developed were:

Safeguarding knowledge: Understanding and implementing safeguarding policies is crucial in football. Alice and Jack took part in safeguarding training within the County FA, ensuring they can lead their own projects and support the other work the County FA completes.

Presenting skills: They took part in delivering three levels of presentations to our internal staff network, which gave them the opportunity to hone their presenting skills, as well as completing research practices and presenting their findings clearly and confidently.

Prioritisation and time management: Both Alice and Jack developed a close working relationship with their line manager, who was able to apply controlled pressure in the form of managing multiple tasks and deadlines, ultimately preparing them for the fast-paced environment of sports management.

Decision making: Throughout their internship both students completed work on behalf of the County FA, making important decisions that affected the County FA's operations and community programmes. This enhanced their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Budget management: Effective budget management is a key skill in football development. The interns had to manage financial resources, prepare budgets, and monitor expenditures, providing them with a solid foundation of knowledge on managing finances in the football industry.

Leadership: A highlight of their internship was the opportunity to lead a community-focused football development project, working in an area within football where they had identified that support and development was needed. Alice and Jack oversaw the project's planning, execution, and evaluation, gaining leadership and project management experience.

While completing his research, Jack noticed that Mental Health Awareness week was from 13th to the 19th of May, and that this was a prime opportunity to raise awareness for male mental health.

With this, his project of a Male Mental Health Recreational Football Tournament was born. On 26 May 2024 at our Culver Road headquarters, Jack’s tournament took place with nine teams taking part in a round robin style tournament and raising a total of £250 for West Sussex Mind.

Alice has always had an interest in disability football, and together with our Disability Lead, Jade Harker, she came up with the idea of hosting a Pan-Disability Female Football Festival with the aim of creating an introduction to football for females with a disability. 

Again, held at our headquarters, Alice created a day’s activities centred around inclusivity and most importantly fun. 

With such a niche group to attract Alice had to overcome problems and adapt quickly when faced with adversity, despite all this her day was a success and she created lasting memories for those involved in her event.

Upon finishing his placement Jack had the following to say: “Being given the opportunity to work with the Sussex County FA has been amazing, we were immediately made to feel part of the development team as well as the wider County FA team. 

“I wasn’t expecting to be given so much responsibility with the work we had to complete, but this was a refreshing approach which I relished. The opportunities I’ve had as part of this programme have been brilliant, and I really appreciate the trust and confidence instilled in us.” 

Alice added: “During my placement, I had the opportunity to immerse myself in various aspects of football administration and development. 

“I supported the coordination of grassroots football programmes, assisted organising community events, and contributed to the implementation of development strategies, aimed at increasing diversity and inclusion, and enhancing the quality of local football. 

“This hands-on experience not only deepened my understanding of sports development, but also honed my skills in project management, communication and teamwork, within a dynamic and passionate environment.”

Finally, our Development Officer, Abi Knight, concluded: “It’s been a pleasure to line manage both Alice and Jack, and to witness their exponential growth in such a short period of time. 

“They rose to every challenge we set them with enthusiasm and dedication, as well as overcoming some tough obstacles along the way. 

“This internship not only benefits them, but also enriches our community programmes and allows us to engage with young people, which is exactly why we set up our NextGen Programme in the first place.”

To find out more about our NextGen Programme please contact our Development team:

Development
T: 01903 766855
E: Development@SussexFA.com